Standoff near Oliver Springs ends with man's arrest

The early morning quiet on Batley Road near Oliver Springs was broken by gunfire Wednesday involving an alleged dispute between a landlord and his renters.

Russel Langley/The Oak Ridger

The early morning quiet on Batley Road near Oliver Springs was broken by gunfire Wednesday involving an alleged dispute between a landlord and his renters.

The incident evolved into a standoff with Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies, the Department’s SWAT team, and members of the Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT team. The standoff ended more than eight hours later when the landlord reportedly gave up.

Denton reportedly assaulted and fired a shot at Emory inside the two-story farmhouse near Oliver Springs. Denton then reportedly fired a shot at Badgett as she fled the house. Neither renter was shot, but Emory was injured during the assault. He was treated at the scene by Anderson County EMS.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene at about 3 a.m. Wednesday. They reportedly found Emory on the back porch and called for EMS after moving the injured man to safety.

Denton had barricaded himself in the upper floor of the house and refused to come out so deputies secured the scene and called for the Sheriff’s Department SWAT team, according to the news release.

Deputies called Denton out with a public address system and had relatives try to call him by telephone, Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said during a telephone interview late Wednesday afternoon. Denton did not respond.

The tactical team, assisted by members of the Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT team, waited for about eight hours while contact with Denton was attempted. It was finally determined that tear gas was needed to remove him from the residence. SWAT team members used non-lethal means to break the windows on the house, Lucas said.

When Denton heard the breaking windows he surrendered, Lucas said.

Denton was arrested and booked into the Anderson County jail on two counts of aggravated assault. He is being held without bond pending arraignment. As of late Wednesday afternoon, Lucas said, Denton had yet to be interviewed by investigators. The investigation was ongoing.

The reason for the dispute between Denton and his renters was not released to the public.